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Caltech Makes Flexible, 86% Efficient Solar Arrays

Posted by kdawson on from the bend-me-shape-me dept.

strredwolf writes "Caltech has released a flexible solar array that converts 95% of single-wavelength incandescent light and 86% of all sunlight into electricity. Instead of being flat-panel, they stand thin silicon wires in a plastic substrate that scatters the light onto them. The total composition is 98% plastic, 2% wire — the amount of silicon used is 1/50th that of ordinary panels. So as soon as they can get these to market, solar could be very viable and cheap to produce." Update: 03/01 21:02 GMT by KD : Reader axelrosen points out evidence that the 80%+ efficiency figure is wrong. MIT's Tech Review, in covering the Caltech announcement, says that the new panel's efficiency is in the 15%-20% range — which is competitive with the current state of the art. And the Caltech panel should be far cheaper to manufacture.

3 of 439 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I think its entirely reasonable to say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    I think it'd be perfectly justifiable to fire all the teachers to fund this. Even if it all ended up being hype.

  2. Buy-out and filing away in 3... 2... 1... by SharpFang · · Score: 0, Troll

    I guess big oil, energy and coal companies are already in talks about take-over on the new startup.
    Just to prevent it from ever entering the market.

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    1. Re:Buy-out and filing away in 3... 2... 1... by Slashcrap · · Score: 0, Troll

      I guess big oil, energy and coal companies are already in talks about take-over on the new startup.
      Just to prevent it from ever entering the market.

      Nope, turns out it's just not that good and the Slashdot summary was totally inaccurate. Do you now feel stupid for suggesting that a huge nebulous conspiracy would suppress this? Of course you don't - you're a fucking retard.

      There's not really much else to say about it, although I do feel quite strongly that you should suck my cock at gunpoint at some point in the future, if that kind of scenario could somehow be arranged. Obviously this is more of an aspiration than a concrete plan. I just wanted you to know about it.